By Mary Pannabecker Steiner

Thanks to the late Theda Hankish, the Bluffton School Board's October meeting was highlighted by the approval of the Hankish Scholarship Endowment Fund. Hankish, a lifelong Bluffton resident and longtime school teacher, left an endowment in the amount of $50,000 to the local school district, according to Greg Denecker, superintendent. The fund will generate an annual one-time $1,000 scholarship to a Bluffton High School student who plans to enter the teaching profession. The meeting was Oct. 19.

In other action, the board approved the resignations of Holly Bertka, sixth grade academic team advisor, and Ryan Grace, freshman boys' basketball coach, both effective immediately.

The board approved Karyn Davis, Bluffton University student, as a student teacher under Michaeline Lovell, for October through December.

Additionally, substitute teacher contracts were approved, at a rate of $72 per day taught, for Danielle Larson, Adam Basinger, Angela Montgomery, Renea Eckert, Carol Gramm, Juliann Diller, Susan Snyder, Alana Ellerbrock, Joshua Von Stein, Amy McGough, Cynthia Haney, James Farmer, Rita Van Nederveen, Blaire Dalgetty, Jodi Jesko, Jessica Basinger, Luann Lause, Travis Unterbrink, Jenna Cross, Kathy Hennessy, Mattie Hamby, Brian Cheney, Greg Saylor, Joanne Krugh, Samantha Nienberg, Kelly Koronich, Melissa Selhorst and Ryan Selhorst.

A substitute custodian contract, at the rate of $10.78 per hour worked, was approved for Jacquelyn Busch. Also, supplemental contracts were approved for Barbara Maag, fifth grade academic team advisor, $635, and Jennifer Yost, sixth grade academic team advisor, $635. Volunteer assistant wrestling coach contracts, each at $0, were approved for Aaron Lutz, Michael Wilson, and Michael Nuzum.